Catskills, New York
Beaverkill and Willowemoc Fishing Report: May 16, 2026
The Beaverkill is steady and fishable, with warming afternoon water and a practical dry-fly window around March Browns, caddis, olives, and spinners.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- stable
- Best window
- Afternoon into evening
- Best methods
- dry flies, nymphs, wet flies
Quick Summary
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are among the more practical Catskill wade choices today, though the Beaverkill still has enough volume to require careful footing. USGS showed the Beaverkill near Cooks Falls around 741 cfs and steady to slightly falling. Afternoon water reached about 60 F, so the hatch window is useful but anglers should keep an eye on temperature if fishing slower water late.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good |
| Flow | 741 cfs at Cooks Falls at 4:30 PM gauge time |
| Water Temp | 60 F at Cooks Falls at 4:45 PM gauge time |
| Clarity | Not reported; local reports describe fishable freestone conditions |
| Trend | Stable |
| Best Window | Afternoon into evening |
| Best Method | dry flies; nymphs; wet flies |
| Wadeability | Fishable for careful waders; use caution in pushy runs |
Weather
Livingston Manor was mostly sunny near 75 F late today with southwest wind around 8 mph. Tonight is forecast mostly cloudy, which should keep the evening from getting too bright and may help olives, caddis, and spinners.
River Notes
The freestones are in better relative shape than the higher tailwater edges, but they are not low-water creeks. Focus on riffle margins, inside bends, soft pockets behind structure, and broad tailouts where trout can feed without sitting in the hardest current. If the water warms quickly, shift toward faster, oxygenated water and stop targeting trout if readings approach stressful levels.
Hatch Activity
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| March Brown | 10-12 | Important larger mayfly on freestone water |
| Gray Fox | 12-14 | Can overlap with March Brown activity |
| Blue Quill | 16-18 | Useful smaller mayfly option |
| Blue Winged Olive | 18-22 | Best under clouds or drizzle |
| Caddis | 14-18 | Carry adults, pupa, and soft hackles |
| Rusty Spinner | 10-20 | Evening spinner falls can matter |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | March Brown dry | 10-12 | Fish over confident rises and broken-water seams |
| Dry | Gray Fox dry | 12-14 | Good searching mayfly in softer glides |
| Dry | Elk Hair Caddis | 14-18 | Use when caddis are active |
| Wet | March Brown wet fly | 10-12 | Swing through faster water and riffle edges |
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail | 14-18 | Good baseline mayfly nymph |
| Nymph | Caddis Pupa | 14-18 | Fish before adult caddis show |
Tactics
Use nymphs or wet flies through riffles and seams until bugs are visible. During hatch activity, move to single dries or a dry with an emerger and target fish you can see feeding. Keep wading conservative; crossing heavy freestone current is not worth it when edge water is producing.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls NY | 741 cfs | 60 F | USGS 01420500 |
Sources
Official sources checked: USGS station 01420500 and the National Weather Service forecast for the Livingston Manor, NY area. This report is an original Custom FlyBox summary based on current official gauge and weather data, with local public conditions reports reviewed separately for hatch, access, and method context.